Documents link Paradise Valley murders, Phoenix killing

Court documents for the first time connect the killings of a Paradise Valley couple with crimes committed against a Phoenix cigar salesman found dead in his condominium last month.

Prosecutors in court documents accuse Brittany Beinhauer of stealing property valued between $2,000 and $3,000 from Bruce Gaudet and another man on Jan. 30.

The same complaint accuses Kelly Ann Steward of trafficking stolen jewelry that belonged to Lawrence and Glenna Shapiro, the Paradise Valley couple found shot in their home after it had been set on fire.

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said Wednesday that some court documents related to the case remained sealed because investigators did not want to reveal information about other potential suspects.

"There is at least one other individual and maybe more," Montgomery said.

Paradise Valley police on Tuesday announced the arrests of five people in connection with the Shapiro murders, including Steward and Beinhauer.

Montgomery said investigators were running ballistic tests on a weapon recovered that authorities believe is connected to the Shapiro murders.

Phoenix police investigators have said they are exploring the possibility that the two crimes are linked but declined to elaborate on any potential connection following the arrests Paradise Valley police announced Tuesday.

Paradise Valley police went to the Shapiro home the morning of Jan. 30 after Phoenix police alerted them that a burning vehicle near Seventh Street and Union Hills Drive was found registered to the Shapiros' address. An officer saw smoke coming from the home and called the fire department. Firefighters entered the home and found the two bodies.

Gaudet was found dead inside his Phoenix home when firefighters arrived the morning of Jan. 26.

Michael Lee Crane, Danielle Rossman and Shawn Nicloy were also arrested on suspicion of some connection with the Paradise Valley theft and murders. Nicloy and Rossman were being held on suspicion of trafficking in stolen property and hindering prosecution.